ObjectiveTo understand advances in diagnostic value of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to find a useful tumor marker for early diagnosis of HCC.MethodThe recent literatures relevant the LncRNA in the HCC were reviewed and summarized.ResultsThe LncRNA could be detected in the blood and urine of the patients by the RNA immunoprecipitation, sequencing technology, gene chip, real-time quantitative PCR, and other techniques. With the rise of RNA sequencing technology, the number of identified LncRNAs had increased rapidly, and the remarkable progress had been made in the field of liver diseases. At present, the LncRNA related to HCC mainly included the urothelial cancer associated 1, highly up-regulated in liver cancer, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1, HOXA transcript at the distal tip, H19, SPRY4 intronic transcript 1, plasma-cytoma variant translocation gene 1, uc002mbe.2, uc007biz.1, etc., which were stable in the blood or urine and abnormally expressed in the HCC, alone or as a supplement to alpha-fetoprotein could obviously improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of HCC, even increased the sensitivity to 100%.ConclusionsLncRNA is specifically expressed in HCC and is expected to be a novel biomarker for early diagnosis of HCC. However, LncRNA has many types, diverse structures, and complex molecular regulation mechanisms. It is very difficult to find a strong combination or combinations to replace or supplement traditional biomarkers and to be clinically useful further efforts. It is believed that with deepening of LncRNA research in HCC, it will have a broader prospect in early screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of HCC.
Laparoscopic hepatectomy is routinely used in the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, and has formed a standardized operating procedure. Tumors located in the segments Ⅶ and Ⅷ of liver as well as the paracaval subsegment of caudate lobe are considered to be difficult sites for laparoscopic hepatectomy due to the deep anatomical location, proximity to important vascular structures, difficulty in exposing the visual field under laparoscopy, and limited operating space. Based on the experience of our team and related research reports, the authors analyzed and summarized countermeasures for the difficulties of laparoscopic hepatectomy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult sites. Adhering to the tumor-centered and margin-based principles, accurate preoperative assessment, selection of the correct surgical approach, designing liver resection plane guided by hepatic vena while taking into account portal vein territory, and giving preference to ananatomical hepatectomy while preserving functional liver parenchyma as much as possible are the prerequisites for ensuring minimally invasive and oncology benefits for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult sites.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and external beam radiation (XRT) in the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsThe early HCC patients were collected in the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database, from 2010 to 2015, according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were assigned into an XRT group and a RFA group according to according treatment plans. The propensity score matching (PSM) was performed at a ratio of 1∶4 based on age, gender, race, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cirrhosis, and tumor diameter. The overall survival of the patients of the two groups was compared, and the risk factors affecting the long-term prognosis for the early HCC patients were analyzed. ResultsA total of 2 861 early HCC patients were collected, including 2 513 in the RFA group and 348 in the XRT group. After PSM, a total of 1 582 patients were enrolled, including 343 in the XRT group and 1 239 in the RFA group. After PSM, the proportion of tumor with larger diameter (>5 cm) in the XRT group was still higher than that in the RFA group (P<0.001), but there were no statistically significant differences in the other clinical pathological characteristics between them (P>0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the RFA group was better than that of the XRT group (HR=1.65, P<0.001); The stratified analysis based on the tumor diameter revealed that the survival curves of the RFA group were superior to those of the XRT group in the HCC patients with tumor diameters <3 cm, 3–5 cm, and >5 cm (<3 cm: HR=1.79, P<0.001; 3–5 cm: HR=1.50, P<0.001; >5 cm: HR=1.67, P=0.003). The results of the multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that the older age (≥65 years), higher AFP level (≥400 μg/L), larger tumor diameter (≥3 cm), and later AJCC stage (stage Ⅱ) were the risk factors for overall survival in the early HCC patients (HR>1, P<0.05), while the XRT treatment was a risk factor for shortening overall survival in the HCC patients [HR(95%CI)=1.62(1.41, 1.86), P<0.001]. ConclusionThe data analysis results from the SEER database suggest that the long-term overall survival of RFA treatment is superior to XRT treatment for patients with AJCC stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) for the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodThe clinicopathologic data of a patient with giant HCC (66 mm×60 mm×102 mm) who was multiple intrahepatic metastases with portal vein tumor thrombus after radical resection, admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, were gathered. ResultsThe patient was a middle-aged male. The multiple recurrent intrahepatic metastases combined with portal vein right branch thrombosis was found at 1 month after radical hepatectomy. After MDT discussion and evaluation, the hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy (chemical drugs regimen was FOLFOX, immunotherapy drug was sindilizumab, targeted therapy drug was lenvatinib) was administered. After 3 times conversion therapy, and most of the intrahepatic lesions liquefied and necrotic and shrunk markedly or disappeared. After further discussion and evaluation by MDT, radical surgical resection was performed. The postoperative pathological examination results showed granulomatous inflammation with necrosis, and no exact liver cancer cells were detected. At 6 months after surgery, no tumor recurrence was observed.ConclusionsFor early recurrence combined with portal vein thrombosis after radical resection for HCC, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy may still be effective and even has an opporunity of surgical therapy. MDT discussion can provide the best treatment plan for patient with recurrent liver cancer, leading to a better clinical outcome for them.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods From March 2004 to March 2006, 137 patients with primary HCC underwent TACE alone (n=87) and TACE+RFA (n=50), respectively, after the interventional treatment, all patients periodically received CT reexaminations and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) measurement. The therapeutic efficacy, AFP level and survival rate between two groups were compared with each other. Results In TACE group the effective rate (CR+PR) was 34.5%, AFP decreasing amplitude was 54.2%, and 2 years survival rate was 43.7%. While in TACE+RFA group, the effective rate (CR+PR) was 70.0%, AFP decreasing amplitude was 78.0%, and 2 years survival rate was 62.0%, there were significant differences between two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Combined application of TACE and RFA is significantly superior to TACE alone in treatment of primary HCC.
For an advanced elucidation of mechanisms of nm23-H1 suppressive effects on metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is necessary to investigate the correlation between nm23-H1 expression and relative factors involved in the HCC invasion. In present report, full-length cDNA of nm23-H1 was subcloned into pBKCMV vector and transfected into HCC cell line to observe its effects on invasion, cytosolic free Ca2+ and Nras mRNA expression. The results showed that lower expression of N-ras and higher cytosolic free Ca2+ in transfected cell line were detected, while the potential of invasion was depressed. It suggests that the suppressive effects on HCC metastasis might interact with intracellular signal transduction which is essential for stimulating cell invasion.
ObjectiveTo understand the current research progress on the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in liver diseases. MethodThe relevant literature on the role of H2S in the liver diseases published in recent years was retrieved and reviewed. ResultsCurrent research focused primarily on exploring the mechanisms of H2S in various liver diseases. Studies had shown that H?S played an important role in the occurrence and development of liver diseases through mechanisms such as antioxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effects, regulation of autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, angiogenesis, and cell death. ConclusionsBy supplementing exogenous H2S, adjusting the gut microbiota, or inhibiting key enzymes involved in H?S synthesis, the concentration of H2S in the body can be modulated, providing new strategies for treating liver diseases. However, the related mechanisms are still controversial. Future research should further investigate the specific role of H2S in different liver diseases and how to precisely control its level in the body to achieve targeted drug delivery.
ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the value of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) model in patient with primary giant liver cancer.MethodsThe MDT model was carried out for a BCLC B stage patient who admitted in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in July 2018. The associated references were reviewed and the treatment methods were discussed about primary giant liver cancer.ResultsAn elder man who was diagnosed as primary hepatocellular carcinoma (minor cancer) in right lobe of the liver in three years ago and took Chinese medicine orally. When the patient subsequent visited this time, the liver cancer increased about 10 cm. After discussed by MDT, the treatment method was draw up to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus surgery. After received twice TACE therapies in the later 14 weeks, the tumor in right lobe had significantly shrinked and left lobe enlarged. The patient underwent laparoscopic right liver hepatectomy after the second MDT discussion in 5 months later. The patient underwent operation successfully. The operation lasted for 270 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was about 500 mL. The suspended red blood cells (400 mL) was infused. The patient underwent transient liver failure and recovered through hepatoprotective and symptomatic supportive treatment, and discharged on 12 days after operation. A retrospective examination of abdominal CT at 4 months postoperatively revealed a significant hyperplasia of the left lobe of the liver, and there was no sign of recurrent tumor. The patient was continue to followed up.ConclusionsThepatient with primary giant hepatocellular carcinoma who cannot underwent surgery at the first time can received TACE, and a few patients could be underwent radical operation later. MDT should be applied flexibly in the treatment of patients with huge hepatocellular carcinoma from beginning to end, so the best treatment plan should be carried out for patients.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. Although surgery remains the key approach for achieving long-term survival, the majority of patients are ineligible for surgery at the time of initial diagnosis, resulting in suboptimal overall treatment outcomes. This paper reviews the current treatment strategies for HCC, with a particular focus on comprehensive treatment plans centered around surgery. It explores the status and advancements in multidisciplinary treatment approaches, including preoperative conversion therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and postoperative adjuvant therapies. Through the adoption of rational comprehensive treatment strategies, it is anticipated that the therapeutic outcomes and quality of life for HCC patients can be improved.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) on the reverse differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells into liver cancer stem cells, and the maintenance of malignant biological behavior in hypoxic environment.MethodsCD133-negative cells in HepG2 cells were separated by immunomagnetic beads and divided into two groups. The cells of siRNA group were transfected with siRNA-HIF-1α to silence the expression of HIF-1α gene, while cells of the blank control group did not transfect any siRNA fragments. The two groups of cells were cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions respectively. MTT, cloning and Transwell chamber experiments were used to detect the proliferation and invasion ability of cells. Western blot and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of HIF-1α, CD133, CD90, and CD44 protein and mRNA in cells.ResultsMTT results showed that the cell proliferation rate increased with the prolongation of hypoxia in four groups. Compared with the blank control group at 24, 32, 40, and 48 hours, the cell proliferation rate decreased significantly after siRNA-HIF-1a transfection, on both two kinds of cultured conditions (P<0.05). The results of plate cloning experiment showed that the number of cell-forming clones increased significantly after hypoxic culture (there were significant differences between the transfected normoxic group and transfected hypoxic group, blank control normoxic group and blank control hypoxic group, P<0.05); and the formation of transfected hypoxic condition group at the same time of hypoxia was also significant (P<0.05). The number of clones were significantly less than that of the blank control group at the hypoxic condition (P<0.05). Transwell lab experiment showed that after hypoxic culture, the number of cells migrated to the inferior chamber in the transfection group was significantly reduced compared with that of the blank control group (P<0.05). Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of HIF-1α protein and tumor stem cell markers (CD133, CD90, and CD44 protein) in the blank control hypoxic condition group were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (P<0.05); after siRNA-HIF-1a transfection, HIF-1α mRNA and tumor stem cell markers mRNA (CD133, CD90, and CD44 mRNA) in the transfected hypoxic condition group were significantly lower than those in the transfected normal condition group and the blank control normal condition group (P<0.05).ConclusionsIn hypoxia environment, HIF-1α can promote hepatocellular carcinoma cells to differentiate into liver cancer stem cells and enhance their malignant biological behavior.
